Scabiosa plant named ‘DVANILSCOP’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Scabiosa  cultivar named ‘DVANILSCOP’ is disclosed, characterized by clear white flowers, long peduncles and strong flower necks. The new variety is a  Scabiosa , suitable for cut flower production or as an outdoor garden or container plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Scabiosa atropurpurea.

Variety denomination: ‘DVANILSCOP’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new Scabiosa cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventor, Gavriel Danziger in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. The objective of the breeding program was to produce new Scabiosa varieties with long flower stems and strong flowering necks. The open pollination resulting in this new variety was made during Summer of 2012.

The seed parent is the unpatented, propriety variety referred to as Scabiosa ‘SB 11-669’. The pollen parent is unknown as it was an open pollination breeding program. The new variety was discovered in Spring of 2013 by the inventor in a group of seedlings resulting from the 2012 open pollination, in a greenhouse in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘DVANILSCOP’ was first performed by basal vegetative cuttings during April of 2012, at a greenhouse in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. Subsequent propagation by vegetative cuttings has shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type in multiple successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘DVANILSCOP’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘DVANILSCOP’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘DVANILSCOP’ as a new and distinct Scabiosa cultivar:

-   1. Distinctive clear white flower color. -   2. Long peduncle. -   3. Exceptionally strong flower neck(peduncle near point of     attachment to flower). -   4. Suitability for cut flower production.

PARENT COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DVANILSCOP’ are similar to plants of the seed parent, in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘DVANILSCOP’ differ in the following;

-   1. Peduncle length of the new variety is longer than that of the     parent. -   2. New variety is shorter than the seed parent. -   3. Peduncle diameter of the new variety is longer than that of the     parent. -   4. Flower neck of the new variety is stronger than that of the     parent.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DVANILSCOP’ can be compared to the commercial variety Scabiosa ‘DCANDYSCOP’, having plant patent application Ser. No. 15/330,252, filed concurrently. These varieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics; however, ‘DVANILSCOP’ differs in the following:

-   1. ‘DVANILSCOP’ has a white flower, this comparator has a pink     flower. -   2. ‘DVANILSCOP’ produces more inflorescence per plant than this     comparator. -   3. Peduncles of ‘DVANILSCOP’ are thicker than peduncles of this     comparator.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DVANILSCOP’ can also be compared to the variety Scabiosa ‘DBLCKBRY’, unpatented. These varieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics; however, ‘DVANILSCOP’ differs in the following:

-   1. Flowers of ‘DVANILSCOP’ are white, this comparator has a dark     purple flower. -   2. ‘DVANILSCOP’ has a stronger flower neck than this comparator. -   3. Peduncles of ‘DVANILSCOP’ are thicker than peduncles of this     comparator.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color multiple inflorescence of ‘DVANILSCOP’ grown outdoors in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel.

FIG. 2 illustrates in full color a typical inflorescence of ‘DVANILSCOP’. Plant depicted in phtographs is 6 months of age.

The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Mini Colour Chart 2005 except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘DVANILSCOP’ plants grown in ground beds, outdoors in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel, under natural lighting. Measurements were taken during April of 2016. The plants were approximately 6 months old. The growing temperature ranged from approximately 12° C. to 35° C. during the days, 4° C. to 28° C. during the nights. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Scabiosa atropurpurea ‘DVANILSCOP’.

PROPAGATION

-   Time to initiate rooting: About 14 days at approximately 23° C. -   Root description: Fine, tufted roots. Brown to light brown, not     accurately measured with R.H.S. chart.

PLANT

-   Growth habit: Perennial with a mounded base, producing straight,     upright flowering stems. -   Height: Approximately 110 cm to top of foliage. Approximately 150 cm     top of flowering plane. -   Plant spread: Approximately 40 cm. -   Growth rate: Slow. -   Characteristics of primary lateral branches:     -   -   Length of primary stems: Approximately 100 cm, then stem             becomes peduncle.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 1.3 cm.         -   Color.—Near 154C RHS.         -   Texture.—Glabrous.         -   Strength.—Strong. -   Number of leaves per lateral branch: Approximately 9 sets of leaves.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite.         -   Average length.—Approximately 14.5 cm.         -   Average width.—Approximately 6.5 cm.         -   Shape of blade.—Roughly obovate.         -   Apex.—Blunt.         -   Base.—Pointed.         -   Attachment.—Petiolate.         -   Margin.—Deeply crenate.         -   Texture of top surface.—Canescent.         -   Texture of bottom surface.—Canescent.         -   Appearance top surface.—Matte.         -   Appearance bottom surface.—Matte.         -   Leaf internode length.—Approximately 5 to 11 cm.         -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near Green 137B. Young             foliage under side: Near Green 138A. Mature foliage upper             side: Near Green 137A. Mature foliage under side: Near             Yellow-Green 146B.         -   Venation.—Type: Cross venulate. Venation color upper side:             Near Green 137A. Venation color under side: Near Green 146B. -   Petiole:     -   -   Length.—About 5 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 0.7 cm.         -   Pubescence.—Canescent.         -   Color.—Near Green 137A.

FLOWER

-   Natural flowering season: Spring and Summer. -   Time to flowering from rooted cutting: Approximately 12 weeks. -   Inflorescence and flower type and habit: Terminal composite     inflorescence, round, with numerous complete flowers. Outer flowers     larger than the inner flowers. Approximately 100 to 300 flowers per     inflorescence. -   Vase life: Approximately 14 days. -   Rate of flower opening: Approximately 3 weeks from bud to fully     opened flower. -   Inflorescence longevity on plant: At least 3 weeks before any     significant change is observed. -   Approximate quantity of flowers per plant: Approximately 10 mature     inflorescence, showing color and 20 immature, completely green     inflorescence per plant. -   Bud:     -   -   Bud shape.—Sphere.         -   Bud length.—Approximately 2.0 cm.         -   Bud diameter.—Approximately 3.5 cm.         -   Bud color.—Near Yellow-Green 149D. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Diameter of entire inflorescence.—Approximately 15 cm.         -   Depth of inflorescence.—Approximately 0.5 cm.         -   Inner cushion diameter.—Approximately 2.5 cm.         -   Receptacle shape.—Round.         -   Receptacle height.—Average 1.9 cm.         -   Receptacle diameter.—Average 1.4 cm.         -   Receptacle color.—Near Green 142D. -   Individual flower bud:     -   -   Shape.—Round.         -   Length.—Approximately 2 cm.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 3.5 cm.         -   Color.—Near Yellow-Green 149D. -   Large outer flowers:     -   -   Flower length.—About 2.5 cm.         -   Flower width.—About 2.1 cm.         -   Upper petals (upper lip).—Number: 3. Length: About 1 cm.             Width: About 0.7 cm. Shape: Resembles broad napiform.             Margin: Entire, lightly wavy. Texture: Upper surface:             Glabrous. Lower surface: Glabrous. Color: When opening:             Upper surface: Near White NN155A. Lower surface: Near White             NN155A. Fully opened: Upper surface:Near White NN155D. Lower             surface: Near White NN155C.         -   Lower petals (lower lip).—Quantity: 1. Length: About 0.7 cm.             Width: About 0.5 cm. Shape: Resembles broad napiform. Apex             shape: Retuse. Texture: Upper surface: Glabrous. Lower             surface: Glabrous. Color: When opening: Upper surface: Near             White NN155A. Lower surface: Near White NN155A. Fully             opened: Upper surface: Near White NN155D. Lower surface:             Near White NN155C.         -   Throat.—Length: Approximately 1.0 cm. Width: Approximately             0.4 cm. Texture: Glabrous. Color: Near White NN155D.         -   Bracteole.—Quantity: 2 per flower. Length: Average 0.2 mm.             Diameter: Approximately 0.1 mm. Shape: Linear, hair-like.             Texture: Glabrous. Color: Near Green142D RHS. -   Smaller inner flowers:     -   -   Flower length.—1.1 cm.         -   Flower width.—0.4 cm.         -   Upper petals (upper lip).—Number: 3. Length: 0.3 cm. Width:             0.2 cm. Shape: Obtuse. Margin: Entire, lightly wavy.             Texture: Upper surface: Glabrous. Lower surface: Glabrous.             Color: When opening: Upper surface: Near White NN155A. Lower             surface: Near White NN155A. Fully opened: Upper surface:             Near White NN155A. Lower surface: Near White NN155A.         -   Lower petals (lower lip).—Quantity: 1. Length: About 2 mm.             Width: About 1 mm. Shape: Obtuse. Apex shape: Obtuse.             Texture: Upper surface: Glabrous. Lower surface: Glabrous.             Color: When opening: Upper surface: Near White NN155A. Lower             surface: Near White NN155A. Fully opened: Upper surface:             Near White NN155D. Lower surface: Near White NN155C.         -   Throat.—Length: About 7 mm. Width: About 1.5 mm. Texture:             Glabrous. Color: Near White NN155C.         -   Bracteole.—Quantity: 2 per flower. Length: Average 0.2 mm.             Diameter: ABOUT 0.1 mm. Shape: Linear, hair-like. Texture:             Glabrous. Color: Near Green 142D RHS. -   Phyllaries/involucral bracts:     -   -   Quantity per inflorescence.—Average 20.         -   Shape.—Falcate.         -   Length.—Average 1.7 to 3.2 cm.         -   Width.—Approximately 3 cm.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Truncate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture.—Upper surface: Glabrous. Lower surface: Glabrous.         -   Color.—Upper Surface: Near Green N137A. Lower Surface: Near             Green 137A. -   Peduncle:     -   -   Length.—Longest average 65 cm. Shortest average 12 cm.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.7 cm.         -   Texture.—Glabrous.         -   Color.—Near Yellow-Green 154C.         -   Orientation.—Approximately 180 degree angle from stem.         -   Strength.—Strong. -   Pedicel: None. -   Fragrance: Delicate, fresh and slightly sweet.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Reproductive organs identical in both size flowers. -   Stamens:     -   -   Number.—4.         -   Filament length.—Approximately 1.3 cm. -   Anthers:     -   -   Length.—Approximately 0.3 cm.         -   Shape.—Rectangle.         -   Color.—Near White 155D.         -   Pollen.—Color: Near White 155D RHS. Quantity: Scarce. -   Pistil:     -   -   Number.—1.         -   Length.—Approximately 1.7 cm.         -   Style.—Length: Approximately 0.1 mm. Color: Near White 155D.         -   Stigma.—Shape: Lobed. Color: Near White 155D.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Seeds and fruits: Not observed. -   Disease/pest resistance: Neither resistant nor susceptibility to     normal diseases and pests of Scabiosa has been observed. -   Temperature tolerance: USDA zones3-9. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Scabiosa plant named ‘DVANILSCOP’ as herein illustrated and described. 